ASW 19 stalls in low climbing turn toward mountain slope
The pilot of an ASW 19 was fatally injured when the glider stalled and struck a slope in a low climbing turn near Ritzigeralp; aircraft substantially damaged. While ridge soaring the alpine slope, the pilot made a steep climbing turn toward the rising ground; still climbing, the glider rolled right, dropped its nose, and struck the slope nose- and right-wing-first seconds later. The probable cause was a stall in that climbing turn, flown too close to the slope with no height to recover; the pilot knew the area but had relatively low experience. The right airbrake was found extended with its lever retracted, suggesting it opened on its own.
- Ridge soaring flight: After aerotow departure from Münster and release near Ritzigeralp, the pilot was ridge soaring along the slope of the Goms valley.
- Limited recent experience: The pilot had relatively low overall and recent flight time, including limited hours on the ASW 19, despite prior mountain flying camps.
- Tight climbing turn to slope: While flying along the slope on a heading of about 45°, the pilot initiated and completed a 180° right turn and then entered a pronounced climbing turn of about 90° toward the slope at low height.
- Right airbrake extended: The right-wing airbrake was found extended although its lever was set to retracted, suggesting it may have opened on its own and added asymmetric drag on the right wing.
- Stall and wing drop: During the continued climb toward the slope, the glider suddenly rolled right toward the terrain and the nose dropped abruptly, consistent with an aerodynamic stall.
- Insufficient recovery time: The glider descended rapidly for about two seconds toward the slope, and the pilot was unable to regain normal flight before ground impact.
- Crash - fatal: The glider struck the slope near the Ritzigeralp almost nose-first and right wing first, broke apart after a half rotation, and the pilot was fatally injured.